Recover Stronger: Physiotherapy Must-Dos After ACL Surgery

Sports physiotherapy for ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury involves specialized rehabilitation techniques and exercises designed to aid athletes in recovering from ACL tears or strains. Sports physiotherapy in Edmonton aims to facilitate optimal recovery, reduce the risk of re-injury, and help individuals return to their pre-injury level of activity safely and confidently. 

What is ACL?

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a type of cruciate ligament in the knee that offers stability and helps control motion, particularly forward and rotational movements. When the ACL is injured, it can significantly affect a person's mobility, stability, and ability to engage in physical activities, particularly those involving sudden changes in direction, pivoting, or jumping. 

Symptoms of an ACL injury include immediate pain, swelling, instability, popping sensations, limited range of motion, and decreased function, necessitating prompt medical evaluation. 

Physiotherapy Must-Dos After ACL Surgery:

Recovering from ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery is a comprehensive process that involves not just physical healing but also mental fortitude. Here are some essential steps in sports injury physiotherapy after ACL surgery to help you recover stronger:

Early Mobilization and Range of Motion Exercises: 

Begin gentle exercises to restore the range of motion in your knee as soon as your surgeon allows. This helps prevent stiffness and promotes healing. Here are some examples of exercises commonly used during the early stages of rehabilitation:

Ankle Pumps: 

While lying down or sitting, move your ankle up and down, flexing and extending your foot. This helps maximize blood flow and reduce swelling in the lower leg.

Passive Range of Motion Exercises: 

With the help of a therapist or using equipment like a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, gently move your knee through its range of motion without actively contracting the muscles. This can help prevent stiffness and improve joint mobility.

Strength Training: 

Concentrate on fortifying the muscles surrounding the knee, with particular emphasis on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles. Gradually increase the intensity of these exercises as your knee heals. Examples of strength training exercises commonly used during rehabilitation:

Hamstring Strengthening:

Romanian Deadlifts (once cleared by your physiotherapist): Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold barbells or dumbbells in front of your thighs while maintaining proper form. Bend at your hips and keep your back straight as you lower the weight toward the ground, ensuring your knees remain slightly bent. Return to the starting position by squeezing your glutes and extending your hips.

Gluteal Strengthening:

Bridges: Recline on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Raise your hips toward the ceiling, contracting your glutes at the peak, then lower back down.

Proprioception and Balance Training: 

These exercises help retrain your body's sense of joint position and movement, which is crucial for stability and preventing re-injury. Balance boards, stability balls, and proprioceptive exercises can aid in this.

Stability Ball Exercises:

Stability Ball Knee Circles: Sit on a stability ball with your feet flat on the ground. Lift one foot off the ground and draw circles with your knee while maintaining balance on the ball. Repeat on the other side.

Balance Board Exercises:

Single-Leg Balance on a Balance Board: Stand on a balance board or wobble board with one leg while maintaining balance. Begin with minor movements and advance to more extensive ones as your stability improves.

Functional Training: 

As you progress, incorporate functional movements that mimic the activities you'll be doing in your sport. This could include jumping, cutting, pivoting, and agility drills.

Forward and Backward Lunges:

Perform forward lunges by stepping forward with your surgical leg and bending both knees to lower your body toward the ground. Push through your heel to return to the starting position. Similarly, perform backward lunges by stepping backward with your surgical leg and lowering your body toward the ground before returning to the starting position.

Pain Management: 

Work with your physiotherapist to manage pain and swelling through modalities like ice, compression, and elevation. Pain management is crucial for facilitating effective rehabilitation.

Compression:

Compression wraps or bandages are applied to the knee to help reduce swelling and provide support to the joint. Compression garments or sleeves may also be worn during activities to minimize swelling and discomfort.

Modalities:

Sports physiotherapy in Edmonton utilizes therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation (e.g., TENS), or laser therapy to aid in the alleviation of pain and promotion of healing in the knee joint. 

Laser Therapy: This involves the application of low-level laser light to the knee joint, where it penetrates deep into tissues to stimulate cellular activity, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair, offering pain relief and facilitating healing in the knee joint during ACL treatment.

Manual Therapy:

Hands-on techniques like massage, soft tissue mobilization, or joint mobilizations may be used by physiotherapists to minimize muscle tension, improve circulation, and alleviate pain in the knee and surrounding tissues.

Massage: Gentle manipulation of soft tissues around the knee can help maximize blood flow, reduce muscle tension, and promote relaxation, aiding in pain relief and enhancing mobility during ACL rehabilitation.

Joint Mobilizations: Through skilled hands-on techniques, physiotherapists can gently mobilize the knee joint to restore normal movement patterns, reduce stiffness, and relieve pain, promoting optimal function and range of motion during ACL rehabilitation.

Rebuilding Strength: 

Sports physiotherapy in Edmonton plays a crucial role in the comprehensive rehabilitation process following ACL surgery. The sports physiotherapists of In Step Physical Therapy help patients achieve optimal ACL recovery, reduce the risk of re-injury, and ultimately return to their desired level of activity with improved performance and function. Consistent dedication to the rehabilitation program, along with patience and perseverance, is essential for achieving long-term success in ACL rehabilitation and promoting overall well-being.